John 18:1-40
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
The time has come for Judas to set this betrayal into motion. Jesus and His disciples make their way to the garden of Gethsemane. This garden was a place Jesus and His disciples visited regularly, and Judas, knowing this, goes to arrest Jesus along with a group of soldiers provided by the chief priests.
John doesn not tell us much about Jesus’ time in the garden. We know from other Gospels that it was a time of laborious prayer for Jesus. While Jesus was in agony praying for what would soon happen His disciples slept. He prayed so fervently that He actually sweat drops of blood. This is a medical condition known as hematidrosis. Scientists believe it has something to do with fight or flight responses and extremely high levels of stress. It makes sens, Jesus is about to experience one of the most excruciating deaths conceived by human imagination and everything in Him is probably telling Him to fight against it or run away from it. Yet jesus stays. He pled with the God if there was another way but in the end resolves to be obedient to the Father’s will. Jesus demonstrates extreme faithfulness and humility in a circumstance too heavy for any of us to bear in our own strength.
When the soldiers ask who Jesus is He identifies Himself so powerfully that the soldiers actually fell to the ground. We get a glimpse of Christ’s power but He doesn’t use it to protect Himself. Instead He offers Himself freely to the soldiers. Peter decided to take matters into His own hands and cuts the ear off of one of the soldiers. In the Gospel of Luke we see Jesus actually healed this soldiers ear. The path for our redemption and for Christ’s exaltation was not to be won by sword and shield.
Peter Denies Jesus
Peter Denies Jesus
So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people. Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
Here we see Peter’s first denial of Jesus. John only specifically mentions 2 out of 3 of Peter’s denials. Presumably a follower of Jesus and Peter follow Jesus and the soldiers to the Sanhedrin. There the follower was able to get in because He knew the High Priest but when he talked to the servant girl to also let Peter in Peter denied he ever knew Jesus. Rather than go and stand with his friend (something he swore he would do not 5 hours earlier) Peter elects to stay outside the gates and warm his hands by the fire.
I think it is easy to see ourselves in the story of Peter. We want to believe we would do everything right and that we would be courageous but more often than not we let fear lead us. Peter is afraid of what is waiting for Jesus and potentially him if he stands alongside Jesus. It is easy for us to let fear keep us on the sideline. We are afraid of the attention, afraid people might be critical of us, afraid of the what ifs. Jesus is inviting us to step into a relationship of trust with Him. We can deny Him and live life on the sideline or leave the field entirely or we can trust in Jesus and take a step forward in obedience.
the High Priest Questions Jesus
the High Priest Questions Jesus
Jesus is brought in and questioned by the High Priest and it goes about just as well as you would think. These men don’t care about Jesus’ answers. They are looking for reasons to put Him to death.
The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Jesus has been very public in His ministry for three years up until this point. Never once did they seek to arrest Jesus while He was openly ministering to the people. They weren’t bringing in eye witnesses to have a legitimate trial for Jesus. This was all a sham done in the middle of the night in hopes they could put Jesus to death without the say of the people. This whole trial is illegal under the Jewish law. These religious leaders will stop at nothing to have Jesus murdered. That is how much they hate Jesus. Even though He has done nothing wrong these men slander Jesus, they strike Him, and Jesus does nothing to defend Himself.
In Isaiah 53 we see a description of this suffering servant. We will probably reference this passage again next week and so I won’t read the whole thing here.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
The section that I want to point out for our study tonight is that Jesus, like a sheep before its shearers was silent. He didn’t open His mouth. We see Jesus talking with the religious leaders and the men in the room but He isn’t speaking like a man about to die. Jesus doesn’t beg for His life like a dog. He doesn’t embarrass Himself or act like a baby. When Jesus speaks it is spoken in power and dignity and it is done so not in defense of His life but to hold accountable the men who sought to do Him evil. Even in His response Jesus doesn’t answer for Himself but tells the priests to ask others people to answer on His behalf. Jesus is focused on fulfilling the Father’s plan, that plan being His death and resurrection. Jesus is on a mission and nothing will deter His focus from carrying that out.
Peter Denies Jesus Again
Peter Denies Jesus Again
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
Here we see the third and final denial of Peter. Again there is one that John doesn’t record for us and that’s okay. But it is interesting to see Peter compared to Jesus as John cuts back and forth. People ask Peter questions based on truth and Peter denies their authenticity with lies. People accuse Jesus with a lie and Jesus does nothing to defend His honesty. It is heartbreaking for Peter fans to watch him walk side by side with Jesus and fail so spectacularly. I say its heartbreaking because we see ourselves so much in Peter. We have been talking about growing in intimacy with Jesus this school year and here is Peter who has been walking with Jesus, ministering with Jesus, eating with Jesus. If anyone had intimacy with Jesus it was Peter, and to see it now broken in a single moment. To see Peter walk away from this beautiful relationship is devastating.
I don’t know if you ever feel this way but I do. Sometimes it feels like when my relationship with God is going well I’m on top of the world. Then I sin and it just makes me feel like the biggest loser in the world. I feel guilty I feel ashamed. I feel much like how Peter felt in those early hours of the morning. I wasn’t strong enough to be faithful and I let everyone down. The good news for Peter and for us is that our intimacy with God isn’t secured by how faithful we are to God. It is secured by how faithful Jesus was to God. Even when I fail and fall short there is restoration and healing found in the outstretched arms of Jesus. For Peter this was a dark night. A horrible weekend where he would see his dear friend Jesus die and know that he failed Him in His dying moments. But Jesus didn’t wait long to make it right. After He rose from the grave Jesus would appear to Peter and restore the intimacy Peter had broken.
My prayer for all of us is that when we sin against God we won’t wait to make it right again. That we wouldn’t let shame and guilt keep us from falling at the feet of Jesus and letting Him make us whole again. You are not too far to where Christ cannot reach you. There is no sin you’ve committed that is too big for Christ to take away. When intimacy with Jesus is broken trust again in the one who makes all things new.
Jesus Before Pilate
Jesus Before Pilate
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
The religious leaders take Jesus to Pontius Pilates and what is known as the praetorium. What was the religious leaders reasoning for not entering into the Praetorium?
“So that they would not be defiled”
It’s ironic that while the religious leaders are gathering false evidence and witnesses, bribing Judas to betray Jesus, and plotting an actual murder they are concerned about their purity. The religious leaders have crossed the line from hypocritical to being outright lunatics. How could they possible think they were living morally? Sin has a crazy ability to pull the wool over our eyes. The Pharisees were so blinded by their pride and their hearts so hardened by their sin that they thought that by doing this great and heinous evil, they were actually honoring God and doing what was right.
One of the most deadly places we can be in life is being wise in our own eyes. Wisdom isn’t something we declare to be true of ourselves. Wisdom comes only from God and from fearing the Lord. The religious leaders saw themselves wise in their own estimation but they were foolish in the eyes of God. They did not seek to honor God with their lives. They honored themselves with every thought and action and in doing so they brought dishonor on their own heads.
There is a story you may have heard known as the Emperor’s New Clothes. Here’s the plot from Wikipedia.
The tale concerns an emperor who has an obsession with fancy new clothes, and spends lavishly on them, at the expense of state matters. One day, two con-men visit the emperor's capital. Posing as weavers, they offer to supply him with magnificent clothes that are invisible to those who are either incompetent or stupid. The gullible emperor hires them, and they set up looms and pretend to go to work. A succession of officials, starting with the emperor's wise and competent minister, and then ending with the emperor himself, visit them to check their progress. Each sees that the looms are empty but pretends otherwise to avoid being thought a fool.
Finally, the weavers report that the emperor's suit is finished. They mime dressing him and he sets off in a procession before the whole city. The townsfolk uncomfortably go along with the pretense, not wanting to appear stupid, until a child blurts out that the emperor is wearing nothing at all. The people then realize that they have all been fooled. The emperor is startled, but opts to continue the procession.
The religious leaders in many ways are the emperor in the story. Satan has sold them the lie that they are wise leaders who speak on behalf of God. And they are so dumb in their pride that they believe the lie whole heatedly to the point that even when their behavior is inappropriate, abusive, hypocritical, murderous, rather than repent and humble themselves they double down on their belief in a lie.
Look at your own character. Look at your life. Are you so arrogant spiritually that you are willing to believe a lie or live a double life just to maintain appearances? Are you stubborn in your sin, you know its wrong but your refuse to give it up? Or are you willing to repent of your sin, humble yourself, and ask God to change your heart. Our God loves humility. He knows we screw up. He knows we make mistakes. He knows we can be foolish. But when we come to Him in humility and we confess our sins to Him and ask Him to forgive us He does it every time. He is able to make even the most foolish person wise.
So the religious leaders hand Jesus over to Pilate and they want Him dead. Here we get this back and forth between Jesus and Pilate.
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”
Pilate asks Jesus who He is based off of the rumors I’m sure he has heard throughout Jerusalem, but once again Jesus does not plead His case.
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
Pilate asks Jesus another question but Jesus isn’t done talking about the first one. Jesus tells Pilate that His Kingdom is not of this world. Jesus has no desire to raise an army and overthrow Rome. Jesus is here to proclaim a Spiritual Kingdom. He is here to overthrow sin and death. To set spiritual captives free and to demonstrate the love and grace of God. Jesus tells Pilate that He has come here on His own terms.
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
As they go back and forth you get the sense that Pilate doesn’t care, he just wants to get this over with, then he almost seems interested in what Jesus has to say. He is genuinely curious about who is standing before him. If this man has declared Himself king than Pilate has reason to put Him to death, but Jesus has not claimed to be king instead He claims to be something greater. He is God in human flesh. He is the Messiah, the one who has come to earth to bear witness to the truth. Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world and neither is He.
Pilate doesn’t understand who is before Him and asks.
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
This question may be a genuine inquiry of Jesus’ mission or just a dismissive statement about philosophy. I think there is some genuine wrestling here with Pilate. He is responsible for what comes next. If he believes the clear lies of the religious leaders he is responsible for putting an innocent man to death. If he believes Jesus he could have a riot or even an insurrection on his hands. Philosophically his question asks what good is truth if this is where it leads you? If Jesus testifies to the truth than it has afforded Him a liar’s death.
What Pilate could not have foreseen was that humanity testifies to the truth by putting Jesus to death. That truth is that we are dead in our sin, separated from God, and in desperate need of a Savior. Jesus testifies to the truth in that by laying His life down for us He has proved Himself to be a good God and merciful Savior, and in taking His life back up again He testifies to the truth that sin is defeated and we have hope in His name. By believing a lie, Pilate allows the greater truth to take place. He does not know it, but by doing what he does next His name will forever be remembered throughout human history.
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Pilate found no fault in Jesus but left the decision to the people. As custom he would release a criminal back to the people every Passover. He offers Jesus’ fate to the people and they choose Barabbas. A robber and murderer in exchange for the sinless Son of God. It’s kind of poetic if you think about it. Jesus dies the death Barabbas should have died. A sinful man now set free because of Jesus. We are Barabbas. Christ has taken our place. He has died our death. Payed the penalty of our sin and made a way for us to have life forever with Him.
